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Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.
Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.
Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.
Marking a major milestone, Steve Rogers' Captain America is facing a classic villain, bringing the Avengers back together in a major way. Here's what you need to know.
Steve Rogers and Tony Stark Unite Against Madame Hydra
This week's The Avengers #34 is also the team's 800th comic issue, and Marvel is marking the occasion by bringing back dream team Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley for an anniversary story.
Marvel recently revealed a preview of the back-up story, which sees Captain America calling in Iron Man for help against Madame Hydra, who is spearheading a new Hydra scheme.
Running alongside Jed MacKay and Farid Karami's main story, Bendis has promised this new story is just "the first of some truly special Marvel projects that I will be part of in the near future."
The Madame Hydra-starring story will refocus on the Avengers' Big Three heroes, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor, "to take down Hydra's latest weapon of mass destruction," with cameos from Avengers heroes past and present.
Who Is Madame Hydra in Marvel Lore?
Madame Hydra, aka Viper, is a longtime loyalist of Hydra, with history battling everyone from Captain America to the X-Men. Viper delusionally believes she's the mother of Avengers hero Spider-Woman, and has a leadership role in Madripoor - a rogue nation where Marvel's supervillains tend to gather and from which various groups have launched major attacks on the hero community.
Despite a history of massive terrorist actions, Madame Hydra has often escaped capture due to diplomatic immunity. Viper has even escaped death before thanks to Hydra's mysticism. Bendis tends to depict the villain as a fanatic whose experiences have eroded her sanity.
Our Take on Madame Hydra's Return
Madame Hydra is an odd choice for a story focusing on Avengers history, given she's far more of a Captain America villain. However, the villain does make sense for a story that focuses on the bond between Steve Rogers, Tony Stark and Thor, with Bendis' trademark quips nailing the sense of Captain America and Iron Man as old friends who can call on each other in an emergency.
When Marvel first revealed that the Avengers would face Hydra in this story, fans assumed it would be all about the heroes, with Hydra acting as a background threat while the heroes took the spotlight. However, Bendis has an established affection for Madame Hydra, and her inclusion suggests that Hydra's plan may be more extensive than initially assumed.
Brian Michael Bendis redefined the Avengers franchise over the 2000s, while Mark Bagley is one of Marvel's most beloved artists, stepping out of retirement for this story. Now, fans know that Steve Rogers will unite the team against Madame Hydra's latest ploy, bringing a classic Captain America villain back for the team's anniversary.
The Avengers #34/800 is coming January 14 from Marvel Comics.
First Appearance Captain America Comics
Alias Steve Rogers, John Walker, Sam Wilson
Alliance Avengers, Invaders, S.H.I.E.L.D., U.S. Army
Race Human
Franchise Marvel
English (US) ·